Collected Works (Vol. III)

194 ORPHEUS For my purpose is swift, And my vengeance strong ; I shall not shift ; I shall cry the wrong. My voice I uplift In terrible song As your forms take shape before me in the} likeness for which ye long. The shape of my passion And bitter distress Shall clothe ye, and fashion An equal dress. Ye shall force compassion With awful stress From the soul that hath mocked me, and turned his heart from my song’s excess. The ruler of Hell, The invisible Lord, Hath laughed at my spell, Hath slept at my word. He hath heard me well— Awake, O Sword ! Shall he flout a suppliant thus and no answer of favour accord? If mercy be sundered From splendour and power ; If he answer with thunder The plaint ofa flower ; Shall justice wonder If Furies devour So bitter a heart, set a term to his date that was aye but an hour? Avenge me, ye forces Of horror and wrath ! Clear the dread courses ! Split open the path ! With cruel remorse is Ilis heart brought to scath. And a terror is on him at last, the seed of his hate’s aftermath. MEGARA. Ha! who invokes? What horror rages Here, to compel our murderous hands to smite? ALECTO. What mortal summons? Who his battle wages So strongly as to call the seed of Night? TISIPHONE. Ha! The grim tyrant of despair engages Our deadly anguish with his useless might. HADES. Detested fiends! avaunt ! MEGAERA. He speaks ! ALECYro. He thunders ! TISIPHONE. His lightnings split the living rock. MEGAERA. Hell sunders The livid walls and iron-bound prisons of death. HADEs. Thus ! to your towers and wail ! ALECTO. He speaks ! TISIPHONE. His breath Is cold as ours. HADES. Depart! Due silence keep, Lest I enchain ye in a fouler deep Than aught your horror pictures ! MEGARA. Dost thou hear, Sister ? ALECTO. Sweet sister !